Magnetic fixings and connectors

ABSTRACT

A mechanism comprising first and second components configured to allow mechanical connection and disconnection of the components together by relative sliding of the components in a first linear direction. The first and second components each comprise magnetic parts, at least one of which is moveable within or around a guide in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first linear direction under the influence of the other magnetic part, in order to secure together and or release the first and second components. When in the secured state, separation in a third linear direction substantially perpendicular to said first and second linear directions is prevented.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/409,688, filed on Dec. 19, 2014, which claims the priority of PCT/EP2013/062948, filed on Jun. 20, 2013, which claims priority to Great Britain Application Nos. 1210900.5, filed Jun. 20, 2012; 1216514.8, filed Sep. 16, 2012; 1222144.6, filed Dec. 10, 2012; 1300638.2, filed Jan. 14, 2013; 1300555.8, filed Jan. 14, 2013; 1300551.7, filed Jan. 14, 2013; 1306870.5, filed Apr. 16, 2013; and 1309452.9, filed May 26, 2013, the entire contents of each of which being fully incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to magnet fixings and connectors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various magnetic fixing arrangements are described in the following documents: US2011/001025, PCT/EP2012/059870, DE145325, U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,958

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a mechanism comprising first and second components configured to allow mechanical connection and disconnection of the components together by relative sliding of the components in a first linear direction. The first and second components each comprise magnetic parts at least one of which is moveable within or around a guide in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first linear direction, under the influence of the other magnetic part, in order to secure together and or release the first and second components. When in the secured state separation in a third linear direction substantially perpendicular to said first and second linear directions is prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate the general principle of linear push-pulls;

FIG. 3 illustrates the general principle of restricted linear push-pulls;

FIG. 4 illustrates the general principle of perpendicular push-pull longitudinal blocking;

FIG. 5 illustrates the principle of rail longitudinal blocking;

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate the general principle of multiple fixing surfaces;

FIG. 8 illustrates another possible embodiment of a restricted or not linear push-pull; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a possible embodiment of the multi-part principle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereafter, the term “push-pull” designates a device that is made of first (1) and second (2) magnetic components moveable with respect to each other, both having magnetic properties so that relative rotational or linear motion, (“actuation motion”), causes one of the components (the first magnetic component (1)), to move between a locking position in which that first component (1) straddles two guides, (3) and (4), made of antimagnetic material (i.e. made of a material that is magnetically neutral such as plastic, wood, aluminium etc. . . . ), and an unlocking position in which the first magnetic guide does not straddle the two guides. This straddling mechanically prevents the two guides, (3) and (4), to move in a folding motion or in a motion that is not parallel to the direction of motion of the first magnetic component (1) when it moves from a locking to an unlocking position. Hereafter, this latter motion of the first magnetic component is called the “locking/unlocking motion”. Such push-pulls offer various advantages such as aesthetics (e.g. the mechanisms can be totally hidden from view), haptic, rapidity/simplicity of use, safety, cost reduction (e.g. by reducing structure assembling/disassembling times), entertainment, novelty/fashion, improve quality, etc.

The trade domains that can benefit from such push-pulls devices include toys, furniture, bathroom equipment, boxes (e.g. jewellery cases), bags, clasps, scaffolding, building frames, panel frames, item holders, fastening devices, lifting or pulling mechanisms etc. . . . . The mechanical strength that prevents the guides from moving relatively to each other, in a sheer or folding motion, is a function of the material that is used to straddle the guides. This material can be the material that is used to make the magnet. It can also be the one that is attached to the magnets (e.g. to wrap the magnets) and that moves with the magnets. Thus “magnetic component” designates both the magnet(s) and their surrounding material. All push-pulls described in this document can be manufactured first and, later, be integrated (e.g. screwed, glued etc. . . . ) into other parts; they can be bespoke or standardised and potentially sold in shops as standalone products. They can also be manufactured at the same time as the other parts so that no later integration is required. The magnetic force can be used only to lock or to unlock the system (as opposed to lock and to unlock the system). In that latter case, an additional force is required to unlock or lock the system, respectively. This additional force can be the same force as the one used by the actuation motion or a separate one. If a separate force is used then the latter must be strong enough to move the first magnetic component (1) from the locking (unlocking) position to the unlocking (locking) position and weak enough not to prevent the magnetic force between magnetic components (1) and (2) moving the first magnetic component (1) from its unlocking (locking) position to its locking (unlocking) position. This means that the actuation motion of the magnetic components (1) and (2) only needs to modulate the magnitude of the magnetic force, i.e. not its direction. This separate force can be generated by a spring or by another magnet/paramagnetic material acting as a spring.

If the actuation motion force is used then the locking/unlocking motion of the first magnetic component (1) is mechanically actuated. This means that first magnetic component (1), second magnetic component (2), and guides (3) and (4), are shaped so that the actuation motion will move the first magnetic component (1) on sections of guide (4) and/or second magnetic component (2) that are inclined so that the actuation motion results in an increase of the distance between magnetic components (1) and (2) (e.g. see FIG. 2 for a linear motion). In that case the magnetic force does not have to be modulated or its direction reversed.

The magnetic properties of magnetic components (1) and (2) depend on whether the magnetic force needs to be modulated or its direction changed. If the magnetic force direction is reversed then magnetic components (1) and (2) can both contain magnets with an adequate orientation of their magnetic poles. Alternatively, one component contains a magnet and the other one a patchwork of paramagnetic and diamagnetic materials. If the force is merely modulated then, typically, one component can contain a magnet and the other one a patchwork of paramagnetic and antimagnetic materials. Note that a paramagnetic material is only attracted when in the presence of an externally applied magnetic field, that a diamagnetic material is repelled by magnetic fields and that an antimagnetic material is impervious to the effect of a magnetic field.

Linear actuation motion means that to unlock the push-pull, the first magnetic component (1) slides linearly relatively to the second magnetic component (2) and parallel to an orientation that is not parallel to the locking/unlocking motion orientation. Rotational actuation motion designates a linear actuation motion with a first magnetic component (1) path wrapped around an axis that is not parallel to the linear actuation motion orientation. This wrapping axis becomes the axis of rotation and, depending on the embodiments, can go or not through the first magnetic component (1).

Hereafter, the terms “parallel rotational” and “perpendicular rotational” refer to rotational push-pulls where the rotational axis is, respectively, parallel and not-parallel to the locking/unlocking motion direction. Note that for parallel rotational push-pulls, the ability of the first magnetic component (1) to rotate relatively to (3) can be a function of its linear position along the guide (3) as illustrated in FIG. 13 of PCT/EP2012/059870. The guiding can be “internal”, “external” or “mixed” for both linear and rotational actuation motions. The guiding is said to be “internal” if the guide penetrates, partially or totally, the magnetic component(s) (1) and/or (2). It is said to be “external” if the magnetic component penetrates, partially or totally, the guide. The guiding is said to be “mixed” if it is internal on a section of the first magnetic component (1) path and external on another section; see PCT/EP2012/059870 for examples of internal, external and mixed guiding for rotational push-pulls.

In addition magnetic component(s) (1) and/or (2) may or not slide relatively to guide(s) (3) and/or (4) during the execution of the actuation motion. In the accompanying figures the following convention is used: the surfaces of the guides and of the parts are totally or partially white while the surfaces of the material with magnetic properties are all black.

In order to aid in understanding the present invention, reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 2 even though these Figures do not embody the invention. FIG. 1 illustrates the known principle of a linear push-pull (i.e. a push-pull with a linear actuation motion). The linear actuation and locking/unlocking motions of the first magnetic component (1) are, respectively, parallel to the Y and X directions. Guide (4) contains at least 2 magnets. The orientations the magnetic dipoles of all the magnets are parallel to the first magnetic component (1) one, i.e. to the X direction. However, the directions of the magnetic dipoles inside guide (4), alternate along the Y direction. Thus, in FIG. 1.a the push-pull is locked. In FIG. 1.b the first magnetic component (1) moved in the Y direction and is now in front of a magnet of the second magnetic component (2) of which magnetic dipole direction is opposite to the previous one. Therefore (1) is now pushed away from the second magnetic component (2) and the push-pull is unlocked; i.e. guides (3) and (4) can now move parallel to the Z orientation in opposite directions. Note that, in this illustration, guide (3) does not move relatively to guide (4) in the Y direction during the actuation motion although it could; only the first magnetic component (1) does.

Note also that other magnetic configurations producing the same inversion of the magnetic force as a result of a linear actuation motion of the first component are possible. For instance, the orientation of the magnetic dipoles of the first magnetic component (1) and the second magnetic component (2) could be perpendicular to the locking/unlocking orientation.

In FIG. 2, in contrast to FIG. 1, the magnetic force direction is not reversed and the additional force is the actuation motion force. This can be seen by the bevelled shape of the channel and of the surface of the first magnetic component (1) of which normal has one of its vector components in the Y direction. First magnetic component (1) is attracted by the second magnetic component (2) if left free to position itself. During the actuation motion the first magnetic component (1) is moved along the +Y axis. As a result, the bevelled shape pushes the first magnetic component (1) outside guide (4); for simplicity guide (3) has not been represented in FIG. 2.

Hereafter, the term “Restricted Linear Push-Pull” (RLPP) applies on a linear push-pull as described above but of which the first magnetic component (1) cannot slide relatively to guide (3) in a direction that is parallel to the actuation motion. The push-pull can use internal, external or mixed guiding and the magnetic components can be used to lock and unlock the push-pull as well as to lock or unlock the push-pull. Such linear push-pulls, restricted or not, can be used, for instance, to attach a panel of a dolls house on a main frame, a removable tray on the legs of baby highchairs (when not use as a table), a lid on a box, etc. . . . . FIG. 3 illustrates the basic principle of Restricted Linear Push-pull. It is similar to FIG. 1. The key difference between FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 is that in FIG. 3 the first magnetic component (1) can slide relatively to (3) only in directions that are parallel to the locking/unlocking motion direction (i.e. the X axis).

One or more set of Restricted Linear Push-pulls can be used to interlock two parts, (5) and (6), together. Several sets are used in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5. There are two sets in FIG. 3 that share the second magnetic component (2). FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 9 involve Restricted Linear Push-pulls. In order to simplify these figures the first magnetic component (1) and the second magnetic component (2) as well as guides (3) and (4) are not represented in details. They are symbolised by black rectangles. Each black rectangle can represent the first magnetic component (1) or second magnetic component (2). In practice, for the Restricted Linear Push-pull to work, if a black rectangle is the first magnetic component (1) then the opposite black rectangle, on the other part, must be the second magnetic component (2); or vice versa. In addition, for these figures, sub-figures A, B and C represent, respectively, the case when parts (5) and (6) are attached, i.e. when the Restricted Linear Push-pulls are locked, when the parts have been moved relatively to each others in a direction that is parallel to the actuation motion direction (at this stage the Restricted Linear Push-pulls are unlocked) and, finally, when the parts have been moved in the direction that is not parallel to both the actuation and locking/unlocking motion directions.

Hereafter, the term “Hook Longitudinal Blocking” designates a push-pull of which (1), when locked, is prevented from moving in a direction that is parallel to the locking/unlocking motion by hooks. In addition, these hooks automatically release their grip during the actuation motion and do not prevent the locking of the push-pull. These hooks can be located on the first magnetic component (1) and grab the second magnetic component (2) and/or guide (4). They can also be located on the second magnetic component (2) and/or guide (4) and grab the first magnetic component (1). Such hooks can move or bent to allow the locking of the push-pull but need to remain in their gripping position when locked. In order to achieve the latter, they can use the elastic properties of the material (as in FIG. 3), springs or magnets acting as springs. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an example of embodiment of mechanical Hook Longitudinal Blocking system for a linear push-pull (the principle would remain the same for rotational push-pulls). The protruding parts (7), at the top and bottom of the first magnetic component (1), pushes up or down the hooks (8) when the push-pull is being locked by moving closer the parts (5) and (6) parallel to the X axis. Once locked, hooks (8) have grabbed the protruding part (7) and prevent the two parts, (5) and (6), to move away from each other in a direction parallel to the X axis. However, after the actuation motion has been executed, the protruding parts (7) are now in the grooves (9) and parts (5) and (6) can move relatively to each other in a direction parallel to the X axis.

Hereafter, the term “Perpendicular Push-Pull Longitudinal Blocking” designates a system that is made of two parts, (5) and (6), which are mechanically coupled by two sets of at least one push-pull of any kinds, the locking/unlocking motion directions of the push-pulls of one set are not all parallel to the ones of the second set and the actuation motion directions of the push-pulls of both sets are all parallel. Note that some push-pulls of one set may share their second magnetic component (2) with some push-pulls of the second set.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example of embodiment of such a Longitudinal Blocking system in the particular case of a Restricted Linear Push-pull. Two sets of 3 Restricted Linear Push-pulls are mounted on two perpendicular surfaces of parts (5) and (6). The locking/unlocking motion direction is parallel to the Z axis for one set of push-pull and to the X axis for the second set. Thus, when locked, the two parts, (5) and (6), can only move relatively to each other in directions that are parallel to the actuation motion direction (Y axis). Note that Perpendicular Push-Pull Longitudinal Blocking for rotational push-pulls has been introduced in PCT/EP2012/059870.

Hereafter, the term “Rail Longitudinal Blocking” designates push-pulls of which guides (3) and (4) are shaped so that they interlock by sliding relatively to each others in a direction that is not parallel to the locking/unlocking motion, hereafter called the interlocking motion direction, so that, when locked, they hook each others in a way that they cannot move in a direction that is parallel to the locking/unlocking motion direction and so that, when locked, the straddling of guides (3) and (4) by the first magnetic component (1) prevents guide (3) and guide (4) to move in opposite directions parallel to the interlocking motion orientation. Guides (3) and (4) disengaged by executing the actuation motion and by moving them in opposite directions parallel to the interlocking motion orientation (or to one of them if there are more than one possible interlocking motion orientations). FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an example of an embodiment of such a longitudinal blocking system. In this figure, the black circular arrows represent the actuation motions, the straight white arrows represent the relative motions of the parts when unlocked and the black surfaces represent the first magnetic component (1) and (2). At least one of the guides has a section shaped as a rail (10).

FIG. 5 involves Restricted Linear Push-pulls. In FIG. 5 the sets of Restricted Linear Push-pulls are positioned on both the internal (11) and external (12) surfaces of the rail (10). This is not mandatory. A set on the internal surface (11) of part (5) and on the external surface (12) of part (6), or vice versa, would work as well. The actuation and locking/unlocking motion directions are parallel to, respectively, the Y and X axes.

Hereafter, the term “Multiple Fixing Surfaces” designates a system that comprises two parts, (5) and (6), the first part is attachable to the second part along at least two fixing surfaces, (16) and (17), and at least one of the fixing surfaces is attached to the other part by at least one push-pull.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an example of embodiments of “Multiple Fixing Surfaces” using Restricted Linear Push-pull with external guiding. The actuation motion and the locking/unlocking motion are parallel to, respectively, the Y and X axes. FIG. 7 shows various examples of how to implement part (5) as well as the diversity of the ways of interlocking parts (5) and (6). Part (5) of FIG. 7.a is the one used in FIG. 6. Note that in FIG. 7 part (5) uses only components (1) and (3). This was only to make the figure more explicit. It could have held only components (2) or a patchwork of components the first magnetic component (1) and the second magnetic component (2). Multiple fixing systems are relevant for any type of push-pulls. For instance, if they were linear push-pull but not Restricted Linear Push-pulls then step B of FIG. 10 would be replaced by a motion of the first magnetic component (1) relative to guide (3) in the direction of the actuation motion; i.e. part (5) would not need to move relatively to part (6) in the actuation motion direction.

The system described in FIG. 8 involves a Restricted Linear Push-pull. FIG. 8 involves external guides only. The system is unlocked in FIG. 8.a and locked in FIG. 8.b.

Hereafter, the term “Multi-parts systems” designates a system where a first part is used to block the relative motion of two other parts, in some directions and is connected to at least one of the other parts, by a push-pull of any kind. A multi-part push-pull that involves more than 3 parts is equivalent to two or more 3-parts push-pulls that share at least one of their parts. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an example of an embodiment of such a multi-part system. It shows the dynamic of the system required to unlock the systems and separate the parts. The parts are fully coupled on the left sub-figures and fully separated on the right one. FIG. 9 involves 3 parts. The parts can be shaped and/or material with compression elasticity can be used to increase the frictions between the parts and reduce some free motion between the parts due to manufacturing tolerance between parts. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an example of a special case of embodiment where the second and third parts are linked by a hinge.

Restricted linear push-pulls and multi-part push-pulls can use “hook longitudinal blocking” systems, “rail longitudinal blocking” systems, “perpendicular longitudinal blocking” systems and/or be used by “multiple fixing surface” systems. Multiple fixing surface systems can use “hook longitudinal blocking” systems, “rail longitudinal blocking” systems, “perpendicular longitudinal blocking” and multi-part push-pulls. 

1. A mechanism comprising: first and second components configured to allow mechanical connection and disconnection of the components together by relative sliding of the components in a first linear direction, the first and second components each comprising magnetic parts at least one of which is moveable within or around a guide in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first linear direction, under the influence of the other magnetic part, in order to secure together and or release the first and second components, wherein in the secured state separation in a third linear direction substantially perpendicular to said first and second linear directions is prevented.
 2. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said first and second components each comprise a corresponding plurality of magnetic parts aligned in said first linear direction.
 3. An apparatus comprising first and second parts, the first part being attachable to the second part at at least two fixing locations, the apparatus comprising a mechanism according to claim 1 in order to provide a fixing at one of said locations.
 4. An apparatus comprising first and second parts, the first part being attachable to the second part at at least two fixing locations, the apparatus comprising a mechanism according to claim 2 in order to provide a fixing at one of said locations.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 3 and comprising two of said mechanisms in order to provide a fixing at both of said locations.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 4 and comprising two of said mechanisms in order to provide a fixing at both of said locations. 